‘‘I never thought that I was off-track. My form is pretty good, I’m playing well and I can build from here.’’

The champion’s latest third round triumph equalled Rod Laver’s winning streak of 31 straight victories at Wimbledon and put him joint second behind Bjorn Borg, who racked up 41 consecutive wins.

Sampras, who admitted being focused on overtaking Roy Emerson’s 12 Grand Slams last year, insisted this time he was chasing just the title, not the records.

‘‘Last year I thought about that record a lot,’’ said Sampras. ‘‘I’m glad I’ve done that and I’m not resting on what I’ve done.

‘‘I’m trying to add to it and that’s the pressure I’m putting on myself, just trying to do it again here.’’

The top seed’s equilibrium, however, was apparent in the way he indulged in some rare jocularity with the ball boy after a tennis ball had lodged in his shorts.

A laughing Sampras rolled up his shorts and invited the boy to recover the ball.

‘‘I said it was all his, he can pick up the ball if he wants. He declined. I guess he didn’t want to go up my shorts.

‘‘But that never happened to me before. It was a funny moment. I didn’t want to let it slip away.’’

Sampras now plays Switzerland’s Roger Federer in the fourth round, a man with whom he has practised but never played.

‘‘He serves and volleys well and returns quite well,’’ said Sampras. ‘‘He’s just a solid player that’s gonna be tough to beat.’’